For a resource to be included in State Agency Databases Across the Fifty States pages, it must by available to the public and be a database. What is a database? Here is our definition:

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For a resource to be included in State Agency Databases Across the Fifty States pages, it must be:

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# Produced by an agency of a state government or a political subdivision (i.e. county, city, school district, library district, etc).

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# Available to be searched by the public.

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# Be a database. What is a database? Here is our definition:

'''Database''' - An information resource where the end user varies input and gets different results based on the input.

'''Database''' - An information resource where the end user varies input and gets different results based on the input.

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The input can take the form of typing in terms into a resource with fielded searching capability like [http://www.boa.alabama.gov/rostersearch/rostersearch.asp Alabama's Architect Search].

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*The input can take the form of typing in terms into a resource with fielded searching capability like [http://www.boa.alabama.gov/rostersearch/rostersearch.asp Alabama's Architect Search].

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The input can take the form of choosing items from a list, like [http://www.dced.state.ak.us/oed/RSGD/RSGD_Home.cfm Alaska's Sand, Rock and Gravel Directory].

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*The input can take the form of choosing criteria from a list, like [http://www.dced.state.ak.us/oed/RSGD/RSGD_Home.cfm Alaska's Sand, Rock and Gravel Directory].

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The input can take the form of selecting from various drop down boxes, like [http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/Hatchery/Stocking_search/HTML/stock_search.cfm Alaska's Fish Stocking Database]

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*The input can take the form of selecting from various drop down boxes or radio buttons, like [http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/Hatchery/Stocking_search/HTML/stock_search.cfm Alaska's Fish Stocking Database] or like {http://www.courts.state.md.us/opinions.html Maryland Appellate Court Opinions.]

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Stretching the definition a little, searching text from a single subject wiki like [http://wiki.wyomingauthors.org/ Wyoming's Author Wiki] can count as a database.

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*Stretching the definition a little, searching text from a single subject wiki like [http://wiki.wyomingauthors.org/ Wyoming's Author Wiki] can count as a database.

Records in a database may be surrogates (meaning they describe an object) or they may be the objects themselves (like a database of full-text electronic government reports).

Records in a database may be surrogates (meaning they describe an object) or they may be the objects themselves (like a database of full-text electronic government reports).

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What doesn't count as a database? Links to top level pages for States or their agencies. This project isn't aiming to be an agency directory as most state websites already do a good job of that. Neither is it really intended to be a 50-State, "cool links" list because other sites like [http://www.50states.com/ 50states.com] are fulfilling that role, at least in part.

What doesn't count as a database? Links to top level pages for States or their agencies. This project isn't aiming to be an agency directory as most state websites already do a good job of that. Neither is it really intended to be a 50-State, "cool links" list because other sites like [http://www.50states.com/ 50states.com] are fulfilling that role, at least in part.

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Please use the [http://wikis.ala.org/godort/index.php?title=Talk:What_is_a_Database&action=edit talk tab] for this page or e-mail me at dan DOT cornwall AT alaska DOT gov if the explanation above doesn't make sense to you.

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If you think that a resource is VERY useful even if it doesn't meet the above criteria, please put it on the "Not Databases" page at http://wikis.ala.org/godort/index.php/Not_Databases. This page is for both state agency resources that are NOT databases and for databases that are not produced by state agencies.

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Please use the [http://wikis.ala.org/godort/index.php?title=Talk:What_is_a_Database&action=edit talk tab] for this page or [[Special:EmailUser/Dcornwall|e-mail]] Daniel Cornwall if the explanation above doesn't make sense to you.

Return to the [[SADATFS Volunteer Guide]]

Return to the [[SADATFS Volunteer Guide]]

Return to [[State Agency Databases]] listing.

Return to [[State Agency Databases]] listing.

Latest revision as of 09:57, 24 February 2013

For a resource to be included in State Agency Databases Across the Fifty States pages, it must be:

Produced by an agency of a state government or a political subdivision (i.e. county, city, school district, library district, etc).

Available to be searched by the public.

Be a database. What is a database? Here is our definition:

Database - An information resource where the end user varies input and gets different results based on the input.

Stretching the definition a little, searching text from a single subject wiki like Wyoming's Author Wiki can count as a database.

Records in a database may be surrogates (meaning they describe an object) or they may be the objects themselves (like a database of full-text electronic government reports).

What doesn't count as a database? Links to top level pages for States or their agencies. This project isn't aiming to be an agency directory as most state websites already do a good job of that. Neither is it really intended to be a 50-State, "cool links" list because other sites like 50states.com are fulfilling that role, at least in part.

If you think that a resource is VERY useful even if it doesn't meet the above criteria, please put it on the "Not Databases" page at http://wikis.ala.org/godort/index.php/Not_Databases. This page is for both state agency resources that are NOT databases and for databases that are not produced by state agencies.

Please use the talk tab for this page or e-mail Daniel Cornwall if the explanation above doesn't make sense to you.